Div Pillay

Div Pillay is the CEO of MindTribes and co-founder of Culturally Diverse Women. She is an expert in race and cultural inclusion, backed by behavioural economics, psychology, and qualitative data research methods.

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Testimonials for Div Pillay

Div was incredible. She is an amazing speaker, professional in her approach and delivered strong messages to over 1000 people. I couldn't recommend her more.
Office of Women in Sport and Recreation

For any organisation wanting to raise the bar as high as it can go for an event of great importance such as International Womens Day – you can’t go past Div Pillay. Div exudes charisma – she has genuine warmth, lived experience and incredible knowledge. You only need to google Div Pillay to find out how truly awesome she is. Div provided the keynote presentation for our 2023 International Womens Day event. She is able to convey the impact of intersectionality on inclusion - gender, culture and age. Her presentation was thought provoking, provided practical tips and generated lots of reflection about our own workplace practices. I highly recommend Div to anyone who wishes their organisation to become more inclusive even if you are already leading practice. You will be left in no doubt why she has received the accolades she has including being named the Top Linkedin Voice in Australia for Gender Equity.
CEO Bass Coast Shire Council

Div recently helped us deliver our ASIAPAC International Women’s Day event. The preparation was proactively organised and guided by Div which made for a successful and smooth event. Run sheets and contributor briefings were provided / held by Div. The session was on the theme of allyship and Div structured the event to include active participation and contribution from attendees. This made for a very engaging and high energy session. After the event there was informal networking and many people stayed and engaged 1-2-1 with Div. This personal contact and touch really resonated with people. The impact of this session is really a catalyst for continuing to progress conversations and importantly actions around allyship within the organisation. Thank you Div, we would be delighted to work closely again with you in the future.
Executive Leader Computershare

Prior to the event and during the prep phase Div Pillay was proactive, through and clear in all communication and engagement. The prep we did together made for a great event. During the session we collaborated seamlessly with Div - she really felt like an extension to our team / organisation.
Computershare

Div Pillay is a an impactful speaker with a message of advocacy. Div's ability to tap into her sphere of influence to bring the right people together for meaningful conversations that inspire scalable change within the marketplace is a rare art. I reached out to Div with a request to speak and moderate a panel at Norton Rose Fulbright around the topic 'Fighting Racism and Championing Social Justice' (GCI 2021). Div organised the entire session which included NRF leaders and the Victorian Multicultural Commissioner. Div has a way about having serious discussions that result in valuable solutions to tackle the most complicated challenges. I, like many of my colleagues were grateful for the experience, and appreciative for Div's contribution. She was able to leverage the panel's lived experience to open up a dialogue within the global firm. This is only one experience of many that I have had the pleasure to watch Div deliver reasonable solutions to our most pressing and difficult work place conversations. Div is passionate about what she does, and it is evident by the lives that she impacts. I highly and confidently recommend Div Pillay as a speaker anywhere around the globe. She has exactly what it take to inspire meaningful and impactful action within any organisation.
Norton Rose Fulbright Australia

Div Pillay is not only a leader in the field of D&I but an engaging, authentic and incredibly powerful story teller. A trail blazer in pushing for progress for culturally and linguistically diverse peoples, Div brings so much value to the table through lived experience and practitioner experience, I recently invited Div to join our Women in Business forum panel discussion where she captivated our audience shining a light on gender intersections and bringing a voice to migrant and CALD people. I highly recommended you engage Div in your organisations D&I and ERG strategic planning Initiatives.
State Manager, NSW and QLD Bendigo Bank

Div Pillay travels from VIC, Australia
Fee Range: POA

Div Pillay's Biography

Div is a diversity and inclusion practitioner, leader, researcher and advocate with over 20 years of experience in gender, race and cultural inclusion.

Growing up in South Africa during racial segregation, Div’s lived experiences deeply fuel her passion for creating a world where equity thrives.

For more than a decade, she has tirelessly researched the challenges faced by women, migrants, and refugees in the workplace, empowering organizations to achieve lasting change.

Through her award-winning consultancy, MindTribes and social enterprise - Culturally Diverse Women, Div is transforming workplaces and championing inclusion.

Recognized globally as a powerful voice for equity, Div also co-hosts the podcast Business in Colour, inspiring action for a more inclusive future.

She co-designs with clients, systemic and sustainable change that advances their business. Prior to founding MindTribes in 2012, Div spent 14 years in People & Culture roles working across Australia, Asia and South Africa. Div is named as one of the 100 Women of Influence, 2018 (AFR & Qantas), has served on the Board of STREAT, is currently on the Board of VicHealth, is a Governor of the American Chamber of Commerce.

Div is listed in 2021, as one of the 25 Global Influencers by the AACSB International, the world’s largest global business education alliance.

To enquire about Div Pillay for your next event contact Helene Greenham directly – helene@platinumspeakers.com.au

Speaking Topics Include

How to be an ally or advocate for change in diversity, equity and inclusion work as a board member and executive leader
7 Equality Principles, what allies and advocates can do to reduce structural barriers and biases to inclusion in systems at work.

Gender equality in Australia and why we are lagging behind
A keynote that explains gender intersectionality, the difference between equality and equity, and what leaders can do to make change for all women in the workplace. Specific research on women of colour in the workplace.

How do you measure change in diversity and inclusion work?
The conversation around targets, quotas, pay gaps, education, employee engagement and experience as effective or ineffective measures.

How to make staff led networks with sponsors effective and efficient within organisations
There are so many volunteer groups in organisations, trying to advocate for more inclusion – e.g. women in leadership, Pride networks, People of Colour Networks. How effective are they really and how do you measure progress?

Racism in Australian workplaces and society
Understanding migrant, refugee and asylum seeker professional’s experiences of racism in the workplace. Backed by hundreds of hours of listening sessions and research in the private and public sector.

Psychological safety and why it is critical to know how to create and maintain it
Psychological safety, i.e. the fear of a negative backlash from being your authentic self at work is at the heart of all diversity and inclusion [D&I] work. If you don’t build this safety, all other D&I work is a sunk cost.

Unconscious bias training and why it has not worked to make significant change
The difference between unconscious and conscious bias, how our brains work to feel, think and act in judgement of others.

Inspirational talk
Div was taken by three black, young men for 10 hours in 1999 with her car, in Durban, South Africa. Her life was threatened, and she was beaten badly. She escaped only due to the kindness of a Black Elder and drove herself to safety. During and post this traumatic incident, Div learnt about her own personal resilience, ability to problem solve under extreme pressure, ability to hold no judgements of others, ability to find purpose and agency.

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